APS/IBM Internship Application Process

Application

Should I send everything (letters of recommendation, essay and application form) in one package?

Please use the online application form to submit your essay, resume, and a list of STEM courses with dates and grades (please do not attach a transcript). Letters of recommendation from your professors should be sent no later than the February 15 deadline.

If I am eligible for both internship programs, do I have to apply twice?

Yes, each internship program is reviewed by a separate selection committee. If you qualify to apply for both, you will have to submit an application on each site and ask that your letters of recommendation be emailed to to ibmurmin@us.ibm.com for the underrepresented minorities internship and apsibmin@us.ibm.com for the women’s internship.

Who should I ask to write my letter of recommendation?

Two letters of recommendation are required. These can be from a STEM professor at your current college/university or a research mentor you have worked with at your university, another university, or a national lab or company. Letters from anyone at your high school or from non-STEM professionals will not be accepted. A letter from mentor who was a postdoc at the time might be acceptable; the student should write to Dr. Barbara Jones, Program Chair, at bajones@us.ibm.com to discuss, if that is the case.

What are you looking for in the essay?

In the essay, please tell us why you are interested in research and your chosen technical field, what do you like about it, what made you interested in it, what sort of science appeals to you, what you would like to do for a future career, and what kind of research experience you have had.

The IBM website won’t let me submit my application. How should I proceed?

If you have any problem submitting your application electronically, please use your "back" button to return to the application and try again; if after at most three such tries you still have difficulties, please email Dr. Barbara Jones, Program Chair, at bajones@us.ibm.com.

When will I be notified about the internship?

The IBM selection committee will notify all applicants whether or not they are successful by April 15.

Eligibility

Are students at non-U.S. colleges and universities eligible?

No, IBM can only accept applications from students attending U.S. institutions. Students are not required to have U.S. citizenship, but their college/university must be in the U.S. IBM has no way of comparing grades or course programs from foreign universities. An exception can be made in certain cases for applicants from colleges in Puerto Rico.

I am a laboratory biology major. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, both computational biology and laboratory biology are acceptable as majors, as long as there is a biophysics or biochemistry emphasis.

I'm a math major. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, as long as you have had some applied mathematics courses, or if your math is for a computer science project. Applied math for the physical sciences or computer science is fine, as is math associated with quantum computing.

I'm an astronomy/astrophysics or aeronautics major. Am I eligible to apply?

No, we do not have any research projects currently in these areas.

I am currently a senior and plan to attend graduate school next year. Can I still apply?

One of the main goals of the internship is to benefit sophomores and juniors as they prepare to apply for graduate school. By the time you would be with IBM for the summer, your applications and acceptance to graduate school would be already long set. Consider applying to work for IBM during the summer using one of the regular summer positions, advertised on the IBM web page, or see the Society of Physics Students (SPS) listings.

Housing and Travel

Will I get any help in finding a place to live?

IBM provides housing assistance in two ways:

Suggestions on where to look and lists of housing availability provided by people living in the local area

Financial assistance grant to offset the high cost of housing in these areas. The amount of assistance varies each year, depending on various conditions including the local economy, IBM budget, distance of travel, etc.

While you will receive a financial assistance grant for relocation expenses, you are expected to budget your summer salary to include housing costs.

How much will I be paid for the summer?

Interns are paid a competitive industrial salary of around $8,000 or more for the summer.

How will I get to/from my internship every day?

Public transportation is available at all three internship sites. IBM Almaden recommends using a bicycle.